Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar firmly dismissed any possibility of altering Pakistan’s long-established policy towards Israel, stressing that Islamabad’s stance will remain unchanged unless an independent Palestinian state is established. He expressed these views during a press briefing at Pakistan’s embassy in Washington following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Dar was responding to questions about US President Donald Trump’s call for Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader deal involving Iran. He clarified that Pakistan’s position on Palestine and Gaza remains resolute, insisting that Israel must first move towards creating a Palestinian state before Pakistan could reconsider its approach towards Israel.
The Abraham Accords, brokered under Trump in 2020, represent agreements aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several countries historically hostile to it. While these accords have been praised in diplomatic circles as a step toward Middle East peace, they remain unpopular among many in the region, largely because they do not address the core Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a significant development earlier on May 25, President Trump urged Muslim-majority nations across the Middle East and beyond to normalize ties with Israel as part of an emerging peace deal with Iran. In a social media post, he named countries whose leaders he had recently engaged with, emphasizing that all should at least simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords. The countries listed included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (already a member), Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (already a member).
Meanwhile, following his meeting with Dar, Secretary Rubio commended Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. He expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s role and highlighted the importance of strengthening the partnership between the two nations to enhance security and prosperity. Rubio shared these sentiments on his official social media platform.
During the press conference, Dar described the meeting with Rubio as conducted in a cordial atmosphere, attended by Pakistan’s ambassador and senior Foreign Office officials. He noted Pakistan’s facilitative role in ceasefire agreements between the United States and Iran, stating that Islamabad helped create the conditions necessary for direct engagement between the two countries. Dar emphasized that the initial ceasefire was made possible through Pakistan’s involvement, and the latest truce was also achieved with Islamabad’s efforts.
He further remarked that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan has acquired a new identity on the global stage. Dar’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic initiatives by Pakistan to engage regional and international stakeholders in efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.
